Mariota set the bar pretty high with the Oregon Ducks and he will have very big shoes to fill. In looking at the talent that Oregon has in the pipeline for next season filling the hole could bring some growing pains for the Oregon Ducks next season.

Regardless of Mariota’s choice, Oregon is loaded with talent for next season. On Offense Running Backs Thomas Tyner and Royce Freeman return, along with a big play Wide Receiver who was out this season with injury in Bralon Addison. On Defense, Armstead is gone, along with Senior Defensive End Tony Washington, and Cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu.

Attendance this season has been solid. Over four-thousand in attendance for each game of the non-conference home slate can only start to tell the tale. If Oregon can start the Pac-12 season out at 2-0 the cautious optimism that surrounds this team will shift. Altman is the Coach that can make that happen.

f the Junior Quarterback decides to depart some of the key players this season could follow. On the Offensive Line Senior Hamani Stevens who played two roles on the Line this season will also depart, leaving a big hole to fill for 2015. We already know that Doug Brenner is the heir apparent to the Center position which will be left vacant by departing Senior Hroniss Grasu.

If Oregon can have a complete game Defensively as it has Offensively this season against Stanford, many of the questions of the last few weeks will be answered and Oregon will remain on track. If the Oregon Ducks win out, they will be in the College Football Playoff.

Oregon could face one more ranked team this season before the Pac-12 Championship Game in Utah, who they visit on November 9th. Utah is feisty and will play USC on Saturday. Oregon needs to dominate from this point on to have a legitimate chance at a National Title this season, or we could have another week of top team losses for Oregon to move up.